Mail-box.



J. A. FOUTS.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 18, 1911.

5 1,017,862 Patented Feb.20, 1912.

Witnesses =1 Inventor 'Attorneys JAMES A. FOUTS, OF OTTAWA, KANSAS.

MAIL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

Application filed July 18, 1911; Serial No. 639,220.

receptacle and cover for mail in rural free delivery routes, the receptacle being so mounted and attached with relation to a cover therefor, as to operate when the said,

receptacle is tilted, or the cover tilted, toi

permit access to the receptacle, a device for holding a letter and coin for stamps, being 1 aperture 8 1n the rear wall of the receptacle A further object of this invention is the 1 provision of a novel form of means for se- 1 simultaneously projected into view.

curing a cover to a mail box whereby when the same is lifted to permit access to the mall box it is held and at the same time a device is projected at the forward edge of the box above the mouth thereof to indicate that there is a letter needing postage, and a coin for the payment thereof.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete mail box with the cover raised showing the coin and letter holder projected. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the same line and looking toward the front of the receptacle. Fig. 4: is a sectional view taken on line 4.4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on line 55 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 6 is an enlarged top plan view showing the letter and coin-holding device in the adjacent portion of the mail box or receptacle.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a box or receptacle having an open upper end, and within the same are pivoted the two arms or levers 2 and 3, respectively. These levers 2 and 3 are pivoted at the respective points 2 and 3, and have their upper ends bridged or connected together for operation by means of the bar or rod 5. This bar or rod 5 is mounted in the straps 4 to the under side at the forward portion of the cover 6.

The cover has connected to the upper face thereof, the handle portion 7 to which may be connected an ordinary latch to lock the cover in position.

In order to properly connect the cover so that the same will be held closed or in the inclined position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, the spring wire 8 is provided, its forward end being connected to the under side of the cover as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5, while its rear end projects through the 1 and is connected to the flange 9 formed integral with the rear edge of the cover.

Secured to the rear wall of the receptacle by means of the straps 10, 11 and 12,.is a wire bent to have the upright terminal 13, the main portion 14, and the terminal 15. This terminal 15 is upon the inner face of the wall 1 ofthe receptacle and has a normal tendency to lift. The terminal 15 is normally in'engagement with the lower end 3" of the lever 3, so that when the cover is in the position as shown in dotted line in Fig. 5, the said cover will be locked in said open position during the insertion or re moval of mail. The extreme end of the terminal 15 is operably connected, as at the end 16 to the eye 17 of the spring lever or arm 18, to the plate 19 pivoted at 20 intermediate of its ends to the interior front wall of the box or receptacle 1 and carries at its upper free end the vertically arranged right angle plate 21, the front wall of whichis' provided with the U-shaped spring bail 22, for the reception of an unstamped letter, while the other terminal thereof is provided with the coiled spring 23, for frictional engagement with a coin or coins, to pay for the postage upon the letter carried in the holder 22.

Carried by the cover 6 at one end thereof, is a headed pin 24, adapted to be engaged when the mail is in the box by means of the locking signal device 25, which is pivoted to the end wall of the box or receptacle 1 and is disposed to engage the pin 24, it indicating that there is mail in the receptacle and at the same time keeping the cover in closed position.

' T by prevent the easy opening of the boX.

From the foregoing description, it is .evi-v.

dent that when the cover 6 is operated from the position as clearly shown, to assume the position as shown in dotted lines in Fig; 5, that the levers 2 and 3 will be operated and the terminal 3 of the lever 3, will engage the spring arm 15 depressing the same, to lower the inner arm of the double lever 18. This action will project the upper arm of the double lever 18 and the coin and letter receptacle above the forward edge of the receptacle 1, in view of the mail collector.

The frictional contact of the terminal 15 with the lever 3, will hold the cover in the position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, thus permitting the carrier to properly in sert the mail without the necessity of holding the receptacle open with one hand and inserting the mail with the other.

By constructing a mail box as above set forth, the cover will not be opened by heavy winds, or permit water to freeze and therehat is claimed is 1. A mail box, having a receptacle, a spring mounted within the receptacle, a cover, a swinging connection between the cover and the receptacle engaging said spring to hold the cover in open or closed position, a double lever pivoted to the front wall intermediate of its ends within the receptacle, the lower end of said lever being operably connected to said spring, and a receptacle carried at the upper free end of said lever, whereby the actuation of the cover to open position will project the upper free end of said double lever above and "without the receptacle.

2. A mail box, having a receptacle, a sprlng mounted wlthin the receptacle and having a free terminal pro ectlng from the 'rear toward the-front thereof, a bail at its lower end pivoted within the receptacle and provided with a projection at one terminal thereof in engagement with the free end of the spring for operating the spring, a cover pivotally connected to the said bail and adapted to be held in opened or closed position by the contact of the spring with the projecting end of the bail, a double lever pivoted to the front wall intermediate of its ends, the lower end of said lever being operably connected with. the free end of the spring, and a receptacle carried at the upper free end of said lever, whereby the actuation of the cover to open position will project the upper free end of said double lever above and without the receptacle.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. FOUTS. Witnesses:

F. J. CLAYrooL, R. A. WVHARTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

